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Devising to Enhance Acting Technique and Vulnerability with Student Actors of Color, 2022

 Item
Identifier: te_2022spring_dones_elena.pdf

Scope and Content Note

From the Series:

The series contains Master's theses from 1943 to present. The theses consist of either a production book and a media component or solely a production book. The production books were originally submitted as physical bound copies, but were later submitted digitally. The physical production books are stored offsite and the digital production books are stored in the College's preservation repository.

The media components consist of U-matic tapes, VHS tapes, CDs, DVDs, and Blu-rays and changed to digital submissions in 2020. There are also a handful of audiocassette tapes and one USB. The media components are stored onsite at the Archives.

Dates

  • 2022

Creator

Conditions Governing Use

The thesis is restricted due to FERPA, permission from the author is required before you can view the thesis.

Extent

257 pages (257 pages)

Language of Materials

From the record group: English

From the record group: Chinese

From the record group: Spanish; Castilian

Overview

"This study aims to determine any connection between devising theatre and experiencing vulnerability while practicing acting craft. Two groups of theatre students over two years, at a visual and performing arts high school in Newark, NJ, participated in devised theatre projects. Interviews with nineteen of those students, all of Black or Latinx backgrounds, was compiled and audio recorded between January and April, 2022. The students talked at length about the community-bonding, the freedom in character creation, and overall performance experience after pandemic-era remote learning, as contributors to their feelings towards their own acting techniques and vulnerability in performance. A literature review confirmed that creativity begins with understanding your own truth in order to experience truth and vulnerability as a character. Overall, the devising process was not essential to building acting technique, but played a significant role in the students' level of comfortability to be vulnerable in front of others." -- Abstract

Physical Location

RG 010.01D Performing Arts

Physical Description

257 pages

Repository Details

Part of the Emerson College Archives and Special Collections Repository

Contact:
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